BEL-VUE
COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
675 E.118th St, Los Angeles, CA 90059
The church that loves the community it serves!
ABOUT US
Through it all there has been faith, hope and love. It was faith and hope which inspired the United Presbyterian Church of North America to send the charismatic Reverend St. Paul Epps to Los Angeles with the goal of establishing the first Negro congregation west of the Mississippi. It has been love - love of God, love of the community, and love for each other - which has bound Bel-Vue with its community for over 75 years.
Rev. Epps arrived as Stated Supply in August, 1946 at the small manse on 118th Street with his beautiful wife and their 2 year old daughter in tow. The Board had provided them with the manse and a two car garage to serve as a home and a meeting place. Rev. Epps began holding Sunday School classes and the first worship service was held in his garage on December 8, 1946. Soon after, the Community Committee of the Los Angeles Church Federation allocated a field on the corner of 118th Street and Stanford Avenue as a site for the future church. Bel-Vue Community Church was officially chartered on September 21, 1946. The chartered members and the growing congregation eventually raised enough funds to erect the building that we still worship in to this day.
Through the years Bel-Vue has remained a pillar in the South Los Angeles community. We have been a meeting place for community gatherings, youth activities, a refuge for those in need and a place to make a joyful noise! Much like our surrounding community, Bel-Vue has been no stranger to change, but what remains constant is our love of God, love of the community and love for each other. Under the current stewardship of Rev. Oliver E. Buie, Bel-Vue is on the path to making an even greater impact in our community. We invite you to be a part of our growing and dynamic community. Come join us for worship and become a part of the Bel-Vue family.
Bel-Vue church is shepherded by Reverend Oliver E. Buie.
Pastor Oliver E. Buie is a man of God who has served the community faithfully in ministry for over thirty years. His ministry reaches beyond the walls of the church building. He is a well-known community leader with a special emphasis on social and economic justice for ALL PEOPLE.
He earned a Master of Divinity Degree from the prestigious San Francisco Theological Seminary. He is renowned for his strong biblical preaching, teaching, organizational leadership, strategic planning, evangelism, community program development, stewardship, ecumenical and collaborative partnerships.
He is actively involved in the fight for environmental justice, criminal justice reform, voter rights, homelessness, and healthcare. He currently serves on several boards as the Vice-President of NAN’s Los Angeles Chapter, NAACP Religious Affairs Chair of the Inglewood South-Bay Branch, 3FN Board member, Executive Board Member of the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health Faith-Based Advocacy Council, President of the Unity In the Community Coalition, Board Member of Black Women For Positive Change. However, Pastor Buie's most important role is being, “A Servant of The Most High God.”
NEWS
To commemorate Bel-Vue Community Presbyterian Church's 76th anniversary, Charles Mims compiled the remarkable history of the church into a visual archive that will live on. This short film debuted at the 76th anniversary celebration which was held on September 17, 2023.
